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A kit fox lays in the dirt on BLM land in Utah.
Washington, DC

BLM Moves to Undercut Its Planning Framework and Most Important Conservation Tool

BLM announced a proposed rule to dramatically weaken the framework around land use planning and erode one of the agency's primary tools for conservation.
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Florida Panther
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Following Historic Elections, Environmental & Conservation Groups Urge Senate to Reject Lame-Duck Permitting Deal

Ahead of Monday’s scheduled cloture vote on the motion to proceed to debate Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (S. 5653).
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Mother manatee and calf swimming
Washington, DC

Lawsuit Launched to Compel Critical Habitat for Florida, Antillean Manatees

Defenders of Wildlife and CBD notified the FWS on their intent to sue for failing to finalize critical habitat protections for Florida and Antillean manatees.

Press Releases

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Hellbender Kat Diersen
Nashville, TN

Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy Awarded $100,000 to Support the Eastern Hellbender Salamander

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC) has received a $100,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) that will be used for programs that help conserve and protect the eastern hellbender salamander. ARC and conservation partner Defenders of Wildlife contributed $50,000 each in matching funds for a total conservation impact of $200,000.
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Laysan Albatross Chick in Marine Debris
Sacramento, CA

SB 1 Passes and Californians, Imperiled Species Win Over Industrial Water Interests

Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the California Environmental, Public Health and Worker’s Defense Act of 2019, was authored by Senator Toni Atkins. SB 1 is designed to defend California’s clean air, water, and wildlife from the reckless attempts by the Trump administration to derail key protections, including dramatically weakening the federal Endangered Species Act, repealing the Clean Water Rule and jeopardizing the drinking water supplies of millions of Americans, and loosening prohibitions on the importation of trophy hunted endangered species.
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Lesser Prairie Chicken

Lesser Prairie Chickens One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection

Conservation groups scored a victory today with a legal agreement ensuring the lesser prairie chicken will get a decision about protection under the ESA.
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Polar Bear
Washington, DC

U.S. House Passes Legislation to Protect Arctic Refuge in Historic Vote

Today in a historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed (225-193) the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that would halt the Trump administration in its efforts to pursue oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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Polar bear Alaska, Chukchi Sea area
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Finalizes Plan to Sell Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to Big Oil

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a final plan to lease the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the oil and gas industry. This plan comes just hours after the House of Representatives passed HR 1146, which restores protections against drilling on the refuge.
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268
Communications Specialist
estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243